HOT
- Production-Quality Lenses Directly from SLA 3D P…
- Forging Ahead with Solar Energy and GibbsCAM CNC…
- GibbsCAM Software Helps Race-Team Mechanics Beco…
- Metro Aerospace Introduces 3D Printed Part for F…
- GibbsCAM Enables Rover Exploration Vehicle Parts…
- Designing a Custom Boot for an Injured Penguin
- Asano Uses Geomagic 3D Scan Software to Drive In…
Rifton Takes Production of Adaptive and Rehabilitation Products to New Heights with Cimatron CAD/CAM Software
"When we build the right products the right way, and get a chance to witness the difference they make, it can be very rewarding. Cimatron helps us make this possible." - Pete Mathis, Mold Maker
Industry: Adaptive and rehabilitative equipment for the disabled
Location: New York and Pennsylvania, USA
Web Site: http://www.rifton.com
The Challenge
• Responding more rapidly to customer requests for new and improved products and accessories
• Standardizing molds and parts so that production cycles are reduced by eliminating the need for additional cutting
• Minimizing the need for EDM tools, which delay the manufacturing process
The Solutions
Cimatron’s MoldDesign and NC
The Results
• As an integrated, automated solution, Cimatron provides Rifton with the ability to design and produce parts and molds in-house, allowing the company better control over its product development
• Milling templates mean that only minor changes need to be made during the machining of a new part
• Through the advanced design and NC programming capabilities offered by Cimatron, the need for EDM tools is significantly reduced
In 1977 Rifton built its first special chair for a disabled child, leading to the birth of the company as a leading provider of adaptive and rehabilitative equipment for the disabled. With sites in New York and Pennsylvania, its products assist people with disabilities in five major areas – transfer, mobility, hygiene, standing, and sitting.
One of Rifton’s goals has been to respond rapidly to customer requests for new offerings and accessories. In order to achieve this, Rifton needed a way to accelerate engineering and production activities by bringing its part and mold design in-house. However, its existing mold design software wasn’t able to meet its needs and the company often had to resort to using Electrical Discharge Manufacturing (EDM), which created extra work and led to production delays.
Rifton, therefore, turned to Cimatron, particularly because of the platform’s CAD-CAM integration, automated mold splitting capabilities, and the ability to create milling templates in Cimatron NC.
Says Pete Mathis, a mold maker for Rifton: “Cimatron allows us to streamline, automate, and enhance many of our core manufacturing activities, without compromising the quality we strive for.”